Chances are you're planning to leave your house at some point this summer. That means you need the frank, fail-proof advice top dermatologists give their loved ones.

Don't settle for a sunscreen you don't like

Don't settle for a sunscreen you don't like

"Some of my friends ask me, 'What's the "best" sunscreen?' But what I've learned as a dermatologist is that liking how a sunscreen feels on your skin and smells are the most important criteria in determining whether someone will use it regularly. So I tell my friends that they need to try several kinds until they find their favorite. Sure, there are certain musts: Regardless of whether you choose a chemical or an organic sunscreen—and for the record, the FDA approves both kinds for safety—you need an SPF of 30 to 50 with broad-spectrum protection that covers both UVA and UVB rays. Also keep in mind that you need to use adequate amounts to achieve the rated SPF. But beyond that, finding the 'best' sunscreen is just a matter of what you like." —Lisa Garner, M.D., clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology

Once and for all: Clouds don't count as SPF!

Once and for all: Clouds don't count as SPF!

"I went on vacation in the Caribbean with some close friends recently and we had a ball, enjoying lots of outdoor activities. Some of my friends were having so much fun that they started getting lax about sun protection. One of them said to me when we were on the beach one day, 'I didn't bother to put sunscreen on today, because, look, it's cloudy.' Well, wouldn't you know, the result was a sunburn! I think that lazy summertime feeling we all enjoy so much distracts some people from remembering that they need to protect themselves every time they're outside. It doesn't matter whether you're in the blazing sun or if the weather is blah—thinking you can't suffer sun damage on a cloudy day is a totally false sense of security. Coat yourself with SPF before heading outdoors, and make sure your friends do too. Call me the sunscreen police, but I'm always ready to pull sunscreen out of my bag at a moment's notice and say, 'Here's the bottle'—no excuses! I nag because I care." —Anne Chapas, M.D., founder of Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City